Viscosity measuring device



Aug. V13, 1935. w. JT'ALBRsHElM Erm. 2,010,837 n VISCOSITY MEASURINGDEVICE v I Filed April 2s, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATroliNEY Aug- 13,1935. w. J. ALBERSHEIM A1. 2,010,837

VISCOSITY' MEASURING DEVICE Filed Apri128, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. I13, 1935 PATENT OFFICE VISCOSITY MEASURING DEVICE walter'.IQ-Amersham and Harvey s. Kennern, New York, N. Y.

Application April 28, 1926, Serial No. 105,188

6 Claims.

This invention relates more particularlyto a class of testing apparatus.

Our invention has for its object primarily to provide a measuring deviceadapted to be employed for testing the viscous value of liquids,especially the lubricating oils used for motor driven vehicles,machines, engines andother ap`- Aparatus, and which is of a form capableof permitting the per cent of viscous components or lubricatingproperties of the iuid to be computed during various periods of itsdelivery, in order to avoid using particularly lubricating oils ofgrades below the known standards of quality.

The invention contemplates the provision of means for conveying a fluid,such as lubricating oil, of unknown viscosity to a passage having arestricted area, and means isprovided for causing the uid to bedelivered -to the restricted passage at a determined pressure whetherthe fluid is of standard value of viscosity or of a viscosity below orabove the standard grade. The means providing the restricted4 passagemay be stationary or movable, and means including an indicating deviceare provided for being made effective by the pressure from theretardation of the uid according to the density of its viscouscomponents to ow through the restricted passage for operating theindicating device to indicate the variations of the speedl of the fluidso that the units of its viscosity value may be approximated. I

A further object of theV invention is to provide a viscosity measuringdevice of a simple and eilicient construction which may be made inappropriate sizes and'shapes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinaftermore fully explained with reference to the accompanying drawings forminga part of. this specification in which similar characters of referenceindicate'corresponding parts in all the views, and will then bepointedout in th'e claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away andpartly sectional, showing one iorm of our improved viscosity measuringdevice applied to a support such' as the dash board of an automobile.Fig. 2 is `an enlarged fragmentary section view, partly in elevation,taken through the device proper.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view; partly in elevation,taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and which shows the device applied tothe dash board.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-'4 of Fig. 2.

The device has a casing I0 providing a feed vchamber for receiving andconveying a liquid of indeterminate viscosity, such as lubricating 5cil, for being tested to approximate its viscous value during itsdelivery. The casing Ill may be of any suitable size and shape, thoughthe wall of the casing illustrated has a bowl-shaped lower portion, asI2, with an upwardly protruding cy- 10 lindrical neck portion, as I3.The mouth of the casing in the upper end of the neck portion is closedby a removable cover I4 which may be bolted, as at I5, to the wall ofthe neck portion. In the bottom of the lower portion`|2 of the casing isa threaded outlet I6 which may be closed by a removable screwcap, as Il.

Extending laterally from part of the neck portion I3 of the casing IIIis an auxiliary casing I9 providing a discharge chamber |9'. l Theauxiliary chamber I8 may be somewhat U-shaped in cross-section, as shownin Fig. 3, to provide side walls 20, 2| and a lower curved wall 22.whichis disposed on a downward incline from the neck portion |3 of the casingI0. The lower wall 22 terminates at an end wall 23 which is opposite tothe neck portion I3 of the casing I9, and the casing I9 has a top wall24. The side wall 2| of the casing I8 is removable for allowing accessinto the discharge chamber I9, and this removable wall may be bolted,`at 25, or otherwise fastened to the top wall 24 and to the lower wall22. Protruding into the discharge chamber I9 from the neck portion I3 ofthe casing I0 is a tubular bearing member 26 having its passage 2l lead`ing through the neck portion of the casing` I0 into the feed chamber andthe part of the passage 21 of the tubular bearing which leads into thedischarge chamber I9 is preferably enlarged. as at 28.' On the end-wall23 of the auxiliary casing I8 is a tubular extension 29 which is sopositioned that its passage is alined with thepassage 2l of thetubularbearing 26, and at the juncture ofthe lower wall 22 with the endwall 23 of the auxiliary casing is an outlet or pipe- I0.

Leading .-lnto the portion I2 of the wall of the casing I0 is an inletor pipe 3| through which viscous uid or lubricating `oi1 of unknown vis;cosity is admitted into the feed chamber The inlet pipe 3| may lead fromany suitable source of iluid supply, such as a storage tank or the crankcase, as A, of an automobile, autotruck or n other vehicle vorapparatus. Interposed in the inlet pipe 3|. adjacent the crank case A isa pressure pump, as 32, which may be of any\ suitable type, such as thewell known gear operativepump shown, for causing the fluid from thecrank case to flow through the inlet pipe under pressure for deliveryinto the feed 'cham ber II. For example, the fluid may be delivered at apressure of five pounds, and the flow of the uid in the feed chamber ismaintained at a uniform pressure by means of a regulator, as 33. Theregulator 33 may be of any appropriatetype, though the regulatorillustrated is in theform of a valve having a casing 34 of somewhat aT-shape to provide an arm member35 and two alined cross-arm members 36,31. Through the alined arm members 36, 31 is a passage 38 and leadinginto this passage through the arm member 35r is another passage 39. Thecasing 34 isl interposed in the inlet pipe 3i by connecting, at 4D, thearm member 35 to part of the inlet pipe ad jacent the casing I8 and byconnecting, at 4I, the cross-arm member 35 to another part of the pipeabove the pump 32. The casing 34 is thereby disposed with its armmembers 36, 31 in upright positions and with its arm member 3,5extending longitudinally. In the lower part of the passage 38 at itsjuncture with the\passage 39 is a valve seat 42, and by positioning thecasing as shown the viscous fluid delivered under pressure in the inletpipe from the pump 32 will flow into the lower part of passage 38,through the valve seat 42, and through the passage 35 into the lower-portion of the feed chamber II. Reciprocable in the upper part of thepassage 38 of the casing 34 is a needle valve 43 having its pointed endmovable upon and from the valve seat 42 to regulate the ow of fluidthrough the inlet pipe 3I, and the Valve 43 is of such a length that itsupper portion extends through the upper part of the passage 38 to somedistance above the casing 34; The upper end of the passage 38surrounding the valve 43 may be made oil-tight t by means of a packing44 and an apertured cap, as 45, which is screwed on the. upper 'threadedend of the casing 34. The upper end portion of the needle valve 43 isslidably movable in an exteriorly threaded bushing 46 which isadjustably screwed in the threaded socket of. the hub or core member 41of a well known form of bellows, as 48, having the usual accordioncorrugated wall for expansibly and contractibly operating ac cording tothe variations of air pressure receivedtherein. On the upper end of thewall of the bellows 48 isa cap 50 which is supported on one end of abracket or bar, as 5 I, having its other end f fastened, as at 52, tothe upper end of the neck portion I3` of the wall of the casing Ill sothat the bellows is positioned in spaced relation to the upper end ofthis casing. Leadingv from the upper part of the feed chamber II throughthe neck portion I3 of the wall of the casing I0 is a duct or "pipe, as53, which leads into the bellows 48 through its cap 50 for passage ofcompressed i air from the feed chamber II into the bellows.

On the central part of the valve 43 in spaced relation to the bushing 46is an extending annular flange or stop collar 54, and encircling thepart of the needle valve between this stop collar and the bushing 45 isa spiral spring 55 which has a thrust so that when compressed it willcause the pointed end of the needle valve 43 to yieldingly move upon itsseat 42 for closing the passage of the inlet pipe 3 I, and the spring 55is also tensioned to yield sufficiently for allowing the fluid whenflowing through the inlet pipe 3| under a determined, pressure, as atfive pounds or at a greater pressure, to yieldingly raise the valve 43from its seat. Thus when the viscous fluid is pumped under a pressure offive pounds the valve will be raised from its seat to allow its flowinto the feed chamber II until the level of the fluid is somewhat abovethe passage 21 of the tubular bearing 26 of the casing I0. Should thefluid be delivered into the feed chamber at a greater pressure than fivepounds the fluid will rise in the feed chamber a l cause excess ofcompression of the air in the upper part of the feed chamber, and thecompressed air will pass through the duct 53 into the bellows 48. Thebellows will accordingly expand for moving -its hub 41 and the bushing46 to move downwardly, and the spring 55 will by its thrust cause theneedle Valve 43 to move upon its seat 42 in the casing 34 to shut-offthe flowvof the fluid in the inlet pipe 3l, or the valve l43 will bemovedsuiciently close to its seat for checking the flow of the fluid sothat the operation of the pump 32 will be controlled for delivering thefluid through the inlet pipe -under the determined pressure into thefeed chamber. When the pressure of the air in the feed chamber I I andin the 'bellows 48 is lowered to five pounds or less the bellows 43 willcontractibly operate for allowing the needle valve 43 to reciprocablymove according to the tension of the spring 55 to maintain a uniformpressure of the delivery of the fluid in the feed chamber IIirrespective of the per cent of viscosity components of the uid.

Serving as means to enable the viscous value of the fluid to beapproximated to .a reasonable degree of certainty, in the tubularbearing 26 of the casing I0 is a. slidable tube 56 which is preferablyof such alength that one of its ends extends somewhat into the feedchamber II and so that its other end protrudes beyond the end of thetubular bearing 26 into the discharge chamber I8. The passage 51 of thetube 56 is ofan area so restricted that if the uid in the feed chamberII is below a standard viscous value it will by reason of its fluidityowA accordingly through the restricted passage without appreciableresistance, but if the fluid is of a standardA grade or above therecognized standard of value it will by reason of its viscosity flowwith proportionate resistance through the restricted passage, and thetube 56 will then move accordingly in the passage 21 of the bearing 28.In order to permit the restricted passage member or tube 56 to freelymove in its bearing 26, on the central part of this restricted passagemember are provided a number 0f spaced radially protruding anti-frictionbearing points or lugs, as 58, which movably engage the wall of theenlarged portion 28 of the passage 21 of the tubular bearing 26.- Theother portion of the passage' 21 of the tubular bearing is of a diameterto allow the restricted passage mem- `ber to also move freely therein,and the limited quantity of the fluid which may trickle through thepassage 21 around the restricted passage member 56 will flow into thedischarge chamber I9. Spaced from the .end of the restricted passagemember 56 may be an extending stop collar or annular flange 59, and onthe adjacent free end part of the restricted passage member is held oneend of a tubular operating stem or bar, as 60, which abuts against thestop collar y 59. The restricted passage 51 of the member 56 leads intothe passage of the tubular bar 64, and in the underside of this tubularbar is a slot 6I for allowing the viscous flui'd which flows through therestricted passage member 56 to ow into the tubular'bar for beingdischarged into the chamn of a nut 61 which is threaded on the holt andis ber I9. 'I'he passage 51 is congured to act as a pure friction tube,which means that the resistance offered by the tube to the flow of theliquid is composed of substantially only the product of viscosity timesvelocity. This resistance isdistinguished from the dynamic resistancecreated by flow of the liquid through an orifice in which case thepressure drop is a function of the square of the velocity of the flowingliquid. From the chamber I9 the fluid will flow through the outlet pipe39 into a receiving tank or chamber, as B. The second end of theoperating bar 68 terminates with a member 62 having a socket, as 63,extending inwardly from its end, and this socket member is movablydisposed in the passage of the tubular extension 29 of the end wall 28of the discharge chamber I9. 'I'he socket member 62 terminates aboutmidway of the extension 29 for allowing the restricted passage member56, tu-

bular bar 60 and the socket member 62 to move back and forth in thetubular bearing 26, discharge chamber I9 and the tubular extension 29.The free end part of the socket member 62 of the operating bar 60 ismovable on one end of 'an adjusting screw or bolt, as 64 which isthreaded spring 66 serves to yieldingly force the socket member 62 andthe tubular operating bar 68 toward the tubular bearing 26 foryieldingly holding the restricted passage member 56 in a directioninwardly of the feed chamber II, as shown in Fig. 2. By adjusting thescrew bolt 64 in the bushing 65 the spring '66 may be tensioned to con;form with the determined pressure in the feed chamber for allowing' therestricted passage member 56 to be moved in the bearing 26 inwardly ofthe discharge chamber I9 against the tension of the spring by theresistance of the fluid in the feed chamber'to flow through therestricted passage 51 when the fluid is of a standard viscosity or of ahigher grade of viscous value. When the screw bo1t 64 is properlyadjusted in the bushing 65 it is releasably locked by means rotated intoengagement with .the bushing 65. Projecting in the dischargechamber I9upwardly from the-part of the operating tubular bar 68 ad,- jacent thesocket-member 62 is an arm, as 68, having a bifurcated upper end, and inthis bifurcated end is pivoted, at 69, one end of a bar 18 having itsotherend pivoted, at 1I, to the pronged'projection, as 12, of aneccentric sleeve,

" as 13. The eccentric 13 is held on one end 'of a stud 14 which isjournaled in an exteriorly threaded bearing, as 15, which is screwedthrough a threaded opening in the upper part of the wall 28 of thedischarge chamber I9. The stud 14 is of such alength that its second endis rotatively suitable opening, as C, provided in the dash board D ofthevehicle. In the casing 16 in spaced rela--A tion to its front 18 is aflxed dial plate 88 having on its front face a scale, as 8 I, which ispositioned for being observed through the window 19 0f the casing. Onthe end of the stud 14 protruding into the casing 16 of the indicatingdevice 11 is a. segmental gear, as 82, in mesh with a pinion 83 heldupon a short shaft 84 having one of its ends journaledin a bearing 85providedl on the rear wall of the casing 16, and the central part of theshaft 84 is rotative in theaperture of a fixed bar, as 86, which extendsacross the interior of the casing. 'Ihe second end part of the shaft 84is rotatably disposed through an orifice in the dial plate 80, and onthe end of the shaft 84 in front of the Vdial plate is held one end of apointer 81 for being swung across the scale 8| of the dial plate toindicate on the scale the variations of the viscosity of the fluid'beingtested.

When the apparatus is operated for testing al fluid of. unknownviscosity the spring 66 is tensioned by adjusting tht screw bolt 64, asabove explained, for positioning the tubularbar 68,

and restricted passage member 56 and to also position the bar 1li,eccentric 13, stud 14, segmental gear 82, pinion 83 and shaft 84 so thatthe pointer 81 will be in register with one of the symbols' or markings,as E, on the scale 8| which may be recognized as indicating the knownstandard of viscous value of the class of fluid. These operative partsof the apparatus may be further adjusted so that the pointer |8I isnormally spaced slightly from the standard markingr E. Should .the percent of viscous components be less than the standard grade, the liquidby 'reasonof its fluidity will flow through the restricted passagemember 55 without sufficient retardation to move the restrictedpassagemember, and the liquid will pass into the tubular bar 68 and through theslot 6I into the discharge chamber I9. If the fluid is of a qualityapproaching the standard value of viscosity or is of a standard grade orcontains a. higher per cent of viscous components than that of lthestandard grade, the viscosity of the fluid will cause retardation of itsflow through the restricted passage member 55, and the restrictedpassage member will be moved in thel bearing 26 toward the dischargechamber I9 by the pressure 'of the fluid according to its resistance inthe -the bar 68 will be moved in a similar direction.

The bar 18 will then 'move to swing .the eccentric 13 forv rotating thestud 14 to swing the segmental -gear 82 of the indicating device 11 for'rotating the pinion 83, and the shaft 84will be rotated to swingthevpointer 81 to the marking E of the scale 8I, or to one of the othermarkings such as the markings to the left of the marking E, which may beestablished for indicating' that the fluid is of standard grade or of ahigher quality of viscous value.` When the flow of the fluid through the'apparatus has stopped the tension of the spring 66 will cause reverseaction of the parts to move the restricted passage. member 56 back toits normal bodied the preferred form of our invention, but

we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto as we areaware that modifications may be made therein without departing from theprinciple or sacrificing any of the adcombination, a chamber, meansconnected to said chamber to conduct thereto under pressure l liquid ofundetermined viscosity, a valve mounted in said last mentioned means and.adapted to control the flow of liquid to said chamber, a bellows devicemounted 4exteriorly of said chamber and including means connecting theinterior of said bellows with said chamber, whereby said bellows isexpanded or contracted in accordance with variations in pressure in saidchamber and means connected to said bellows and to said valve to operatethe valve for controlling the flow of liquid to the chamber, a frictiontube movably mounted in one wall of said chamber, elastic meansl toretard the movement of said tube, the said tube being so positioned thatthe passage of liquid therekthrough out of said chamber imparts a.movement to said tube, a dial, and a link mechanism connected betweensaid tube and said dial whereby the movement of said tube is indicated.

2. A -viscosity measuring device comprising in combination, a chamber,means connected to said chamber to conduct thereto under 'pressureliquid of undetermined viscosity, a. valve mounted in said lastmentioned means and adapted to control the flow of liquid to saidchamber, a bellows device mounted exteriorly of said chamber includingmeans connecting the interior of said bellows with said chamber, wherebysaid bellows is expanded or contracted in accordance with variationsinpressure in said chamber and means connected to. said bellows and tosaid yvalve to operate the valve -for controlling the flow of liquid tothe chamber, a friction tube slidably mounted in' one wall of A,saidchamber, and adapted to be traversed by theliquid flowing out of saidchamber, means to resist thel sliding of the tube, and means associatedwith said tube and movable thereby to indicate the speed of iiow ofliquid therethrough.

3. A viscosity measuring. device comprising in combination, a firstchamber, means to conductl to said first chamber a liquid ofundetermined viscosity under pressure, a valve mounted in said lastmentioned means, yieldable means connected to said iirst chamberand-responsive to variations in pressure in said first chamber to'control said valve, a second chamber, both said chambers'having a commonwall, a friction tube movably mounted in said wall, said tube connectingsaid first chamber with said second chamber 4. A viscositymeasuring'device comprising in Icombination, a first chamber, means toconduct to said iirst -chamber liquid of undetermined viscosity underpressure, a valve mounted in said last mentioned means, yieldable meansconnected I to said rst chamber and responsive to variations in pressurein said first chamber to control said valve, a second chamber, both saidchambers having a common wall, a friction tube movably mounted in saidwall, said tube connecting said rst chamber with said second chamber andadapted to be traversed by the passage of liquid fromsaid first chamberto said second chamber, the passage 'of said liquid through said tubeirnlparting thereto a linear movement, yieldable means tooppose themovement of said tube, and means responsive to said movement to indicatethe viscosity.

5. A viscosity measuring device comprising in combination, a chamberhaving an inlet for the liquid to be tested, a valve mounted in saidinlet for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, yieldable meansto operate said valve,said means being connected to said chamber, a tubeslidably lmounted in one wall of said chamber, said tube having arestricted passage which offers ,frictional resistance to the ow of.liquid therethrough, said ow f liquid through its resistance causingthe tube to move in one direction, yieldable means connected to saidltube and acting in a direction to oppose the movement of said tube,means connected to said tube and movable thereby to indicate viscosity.

6. A viscosity measuring device for liquids comprising in combination, achamber having an inlet for the liquid tor be tested, a valve to controlthe ow of liquid into said chamber, a tube slidably mounted in one wallof said chamber, said tube having a restricted passage which offersfrlctional resistance to lthe flow -of liquid therethrough, said ilow oiliquid through its resistance causing the tube to move in one direction,a bellows device connected to said chamber and being responsive to thepressure of the liqui'd therein to operate said valve, yieldable meansconnected to said tube and acting in a direction to oppose the movementof said tube, and means connected to said tube and movable thereby toindicate viscosity.

WALTER.l J. ALBERSHEIM. HARVEY S. KONHEIM.

